Electrical apparatus for the electrochemical treatment op vapors



L. B. CHERRY.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF VAPORS.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. a. 1917.

1,345,431. Patented July 6,1920.

, 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES L. B. CHERRY. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF VAPORS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1917.

Patented July 6, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 9 yfimwoz/ M M LOUIS BOND CHERRY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF VAPORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1920.

Application filed October 9-, 1917. Serial No. 195,608.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, LOUIS BOND CHERnY, a citizen of the United States of America,

and resident of Kansas City, county of Jackson, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Electrical Apparatus for the Electrochemical Treatment of Vapors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus 'fou the electrochemical treatment" of liquid hydrocarbon and other compounds; and the. objects and nature of the inventionwill be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I- now believe to "be the preferred embodiment of my invention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope thereof.

An ob'ect of the invention is to provide improve apparatus capable of carrying out the method described in United States Patent no. 1,229,886 issued to me June 12,

A further object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon and other compounds while in the vaporized or gaseous state.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus whereby vapors and gases can be thoroughly and effectively subjected to the influence of certain electrical discharges.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus embodying certain vapor or gas treating passages having electrical heating means under the control of the ope ator to bring about certain changes in the character or nature of the vapors or gases passing through said passages.

'A further object of the invention'is to provide certain improvements. in arrangements of elements and in construction whereby a highly advantageous and improved apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon and other compounds will be produced.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features, arrangements and combinations as more specifically set forth and pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs:

Figure l diagrammatically illustrates apparatus of my invention in connection with a diagrammatically illustrated crude oil still, the still being shown in section and the treating chambers or ducts of my invention in elevation.

Fig. 2, diagrammatically illustrates one of the treating chambers or ducts in vertical section. I

Fig. 3, shows the treating chambers in cross section.

In the drawings, a crude oil or other still 1, is diagrammatically illustrated. This still can be of any ordinary or suitable construction and can be heated by any suitable means or in any desirable manner. Any usual or suitable means is provided for supplying the oil or other liquid to the still,

and the still can be provided with the usual or any suitable intakes and outlets and with the usual or any suitable accessories and connections.

If so desired, the still 1, can representithe ordinary, horizontal cylindrical, or any suitable crude oil still such as commonly employed in oil refineries for the fractional distillation of crude mineral and other oils,

' and the apparatus of my invention can be of my invention interposed, in the vapor passage, from the still to the condenser. In the drawings, any suitable condenser 2 is diagrammatically illustrated and the prod ucts discharged from the condenser enter any suitable trap or separating device 3. If

so desired, this trap can be approximately similar to that described in my aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1,229,886.

.In'the example illustrated bv the drawings, the vapor'and gas treating apparatus comprises four upright parallel from the still flow through pipe 4 into the upper end portion of the first unit and these units are so coupled together'that the Vapors flow longitudinally throughout the length of units. coupled together in series so that the vapors each unit, downwardly through one unit and upwardly through the next, and from unit to unit, and finally discharge into the condenser through pipe 5 from the upper end of the last unit of the series. However, I do not wish to so limit all features of my invention.

In the particular example illustrated, although I do not wish to so limit. all features of my invention, each upright treat- ,ing chamber is mounted on a suitable base upright continuation of the pipe 6 and having its lower vertical arm bolted to the upper end of pipe 6; and a hollow top head 8 forming an upward continuation of-the union 10' and at its lower end bolted to the upper arm of said union. Theupper end of hollow head 8 is provided with clamping plates and an insulator 9 to close the projecting upper end of the treating chamber unit. The insulator extends through said plates from the exterior thereof and depends longitudinally and centrally within the head.

The lateral or horizontal arms of the T unions 10, are utilized for coupling vapor and gas delivery pipe 1-. to the first unit,

apor oiftake pipe5 to the last unit, and cross connection pipe 11 to the upper ends of the second and third units to provide for flow of vapors from the second unit to the third unit.

The lateral or horizontal arms of the four way unions 12 are arranged to extend forwardly and rearwardly and the front ends of the forwardly extending arms are closed by'removable plates or covers 12 whereby access can be readily gained to the interiors of the lower ends ofthe units for lower end of the third unit to the lower end repair or inspection or for cleaning purposes. 1

The rearwardly extending *arms of the four-way couplings are utilized for coupling and securing the cross connection pipes 13 that provide the vapor passages from the lower end of the first unit to the lower end of the second unit, and from the of the last unit. The cross connections 13 as shown are horizontally arranged and U shape in form to constitute return bends.

v These return bends are removably bolted .to the rearwardly projecting lateral arms "ofthe unions 12 whereby either return bend can bev removed when removal of plate or plates 12, will not afford thenecessary access to the interior of a unit for inspection, repair or cleaning or for-removal of ,broken electrodes or other parts, or other purposes.

If so desired, the traps or pockets formed at the lower ends of the units by the depending arms of. unions 12, can be provided with valved'drain pipes 14.

I preferably provide suitable 'pyrometers 35, or other suitable means, to indicate temperatures at various points, such as within the still, the vapor offtake from the still, and the vapor offtake from the treating ,chamber, although I do notwish to so limit my invention.

The vaporous or gaseous compounds passing through the treating chamber are subjected to the electrical treatment set forth in my hereinbefore mentionedpatent.

In the drawings, 1 show each treating chamber unit provided with a central longitudinally arranged electrode formed by a comparatively fine wire 16 of good conducting metal extending throughout or approximately throughout the length of the unit. This wire depends from the insulator 9 and at its lower. end carries a weight 17 of insulating material which acts as a plummet in holding the wire taut and straight and in preventing electrical discharge from the wire extremity. The metal walls 8, 10,6, and 12 of the several treat- 'ing chamber units are of good electrical conductor material and said walls of theseveral units are electricallyconnected together or to ground.

The several electrodes 16 are suitably connectedup with an operating circuit to produce the silent discharge of a high frequency oscillatory electric current back and forth between the electrodes and the ad jacent walls of the treating chamber units and through the vapors and gases flowing through chambers-a and transversely to the direction of flow thereof.

Any suitable electrical connections and instrumentalitiescan be provided for this purpose. For instance, the instrumentalities and arrangements set forth in my said patent can be used if so desired, and I have diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, the circuits and instrumentalities ofmy said patent for producing the silent discharge desired from the power derived from any suitable source 20, 2 l, of alternating electric current.

In the example illustrated, I show the opposite terminals of the high. frequency oscillatory bipolar electric current circuit connected through insulators 9 with different sets of electrodes 16 softhat the silent discharge from each set of electrodes 16 will flow fromsaid electrodes across chambers a in which they are located to the walls thereof and through said walls to the walls of the remaining chambers and across the spaces a thereof to the other set of electrodes 16. I thereby attain maximum electrostatic balance in the high frequency circuit.

I provide means for subjecting the vapors while in the treating chambers a to a comparatively high degree of heat, and while this heat can be generated and applied (according to the broad features of my invention) in'any suitable manner and by any suitable means, yet other features of my invention contemplate the generation and application of this heat through the medium of certain electrical means and instrumentalities embodying electrical coils. To this end, the tubular walls 6 of the chambers 41 are formed of iron, steel or other suitable metal, and each body 6 is exteriorly surrounded by a coil or solenoid 15 extending longitudinally thereof and approximately throughout the length of said body. Each coil 15 is composed of copper or other good electrical conductor wire electrically insulated from body 6. I have found it desirable to employ suitable fire proof or high temperature insulation in which good conductors 15 are incased or electrically insulated from the tubuv lar bodies 6 which they surround.

The exterior solenoids 15 of the several tubular bodies 6 are electrically connected together in any suitable manner, and each solenoid is not a high'resistance or in that sense a heating coil, but is composed of a good conductor and when the proper or required alternating current is passed through the spiral coils thereof, the tubular me al wall 6 of the treating chamber surroundtl by said coils will be heated by induction.

In the diagram illustrated, I show the solenoids 15, connected with any variable potential generator or with a suitable alternating power circuit 33 through the medium of suitable instrumentalities including a controller for the heat generating current comprising an autotransformer or other suitable transformer 22, the secondary of which is'provided with taps 23 leading to the various fixed contacts 24of the rotaryswitch which contacts are arranged progressively aroundthe switch center to successively receive the manually adjustable switch 'contact or blade 25 which is rotatable about the switch center to progressively increase or 'to carry out the method of my aforementioned patent, any suitable hydrogen carrying gaseous agent or vapor is discharged into the hydrocarbon liquid in the still 1, through the medium of perforated pipe 28, arranged in the bottom of the still so that said agent rises through the liquid in the still and is mechanical y mixed with and heated to the same temperature as the vapor rising from said liquid. This mechanical vaporous mixture passes from the still through pipe 1 into the electrical treating apparatus. The walls 6 of the treating chambers/u are usually maintained at a comparatively high temperature by the alternating current in the coils 15 and the vaporous mixture in said chambers is thereby subjected to said high temperature while said vaporous mixture is subjected to the hereinbefore mentioned high frequency electrical discharge. The molecular structures of the vaporous mixture are thereby changed without substantial loss by by-products, to produce a product having a higher percentage of hydrogen, approximately as set forth in my said patent.

Natural, coal or hydrogen gas, superheated steam or a mixture of superheated steam and natural or other gas can be discharged into the mineral oil distillate in still 1, to provide the hydrogen carrying agent. I show a valved supply pipe 29 through'which superheated steam can be supplied to pipe 28 where desired, simultaneously with natural gas supplied through valved pipe 30 or either pipe 29 or 30 can be shut off to permit discharge of either steam or gas into the still without the other.

With the apparatus approximately disclosed, the still can be operated under low or approximately atmospheric pressure, and the Walls 6 of the treating chambers can be maintained at approximately a red heat or high heat by the alternating current in coils 15, whereby certain advantages are attained. I also attain certain advantages by provid ing the greatly extended path through which the vaporous mixture must pass and wherein it is subjected to heat and the electrical discharge. In the embodiment shown this extended path is formed by the plurality of elongated units embodying the tubes 6.

Obviously the number of units can be increased or decreased for any given installation so that the vaporous mixture will be subjected to the electrical discharge for the desired length of time and throughout a path of the desired length.

I also gain advantages, in the specific apparatus, by forming an elongated treating chamber within a pipe length 6 that is surrounded approximately throughout its length by the alternating current coil 15, inasmuch as the pipe length is heated to a higher temperature at the center of its length than at its end portions, and for some reason that I can'not now explain, the process of said patent is thus carried on with better results than where the vaporous mixture is not subjected to varying temperatures in the treating chambers.

With the apparatus of this invention, I can vary the character of the product by varying the heat of the walls 6 of the treatingchambers, instead of by manually controlling the electric current to change the frequency of the electricaldischarge as proposed in mysaid patent. By operating the apparatus with the walls 6 of the treating chambers at approximately a-red heat, I can increase or decrease the heat of said walls by manipulating the switch handle and thereby increase or decrease theitemperature of the vaporous mixture passing through said chambers and consequently vary the electrical resistance said mixture offers to the passage of the silent discharge.

Within certain limits variation of the temperature within the treating chambers has the same effect on the vaporous mixture as the direct variation of the frequency of the electrical disch. rge.

The character 0 the resulting product can also be changed within certain limits,

25 charge Within and the heat of the treating by-varying the length of time the vaporous mixture is subjected to. the electrical dischamber-a, and this length of time can be changed by varying the speed or velocity of flow of themixture through said cham-' ber. Where the still is-operated at about atmospheric pressure and the temperature of the oil in the still is just below the boiling point, so that the speed or pressure of v the. gas entering through pipe 28 is necessary to carry the vapors from the still and into chamber a, the speed of flow of the vapors through chamber a can be manually controlled by manipulating the valve in the gas supply pipe to increase or diminish the olume and pressure of the gas admitted to the still.

The apparatus of -my invention is not limited to use in carrying out the method of'my aforesaid patent but constitutes an efficient equipment for cracking of oils in the vapor state, where natural gas or other hydrogen carrying agents are not mixed therewith, and particularly for the production of the aromatic hydrocarbons and for operation under high pressure and temperatures.

- Where used for cracking oils or for the production of aromatic hydrocarbons,

the high frequency electrical discharge, in

connection with the heated walls of the treating. chamber, is effective in breaking up the molecular structure'of the vapor and prevents excessive deposit of carbon on the surfaces of said. walls, the carbombeing carried over by the vapor and settles in the tank where the final product is stored.

Steam can be utilized to supply the hydrogen required by the method of my patent. The steam is discharged into the hydrocarbon liquid in the still through pipe 28 and wearer passes into the treating chamber with the this carbon monoxid can be burned in the furnace under the still. V

It is evident that various changes, modificatlons, and variations might be resorted to in the forms, constructions arrangements, and combinations of the.parts described without depart] g from the spirit and scope of my inventio d and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosures hereof.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a still for vaporizing liquid hydrocarbons, a condenser, and a conduit for conducting the vaporized products from the still to the condenser, said conduit embodying an elongated treating chamber remote from the still, means for maintain,- ing the wall of said chamber at approximately'a red heat, and means for subjecting the vaporized products while passing through said chamber to a high frequency electric current discharge while said products are under the influence of said hot wall.

2. In apparatus for the purpose substantially as described, a series of treating chambers connected together in series to require the'yaporized mixture to pass along an extended path longitudinally through each chamber in succession, means for sub jecting the mixture while passing through said chambers to a high frequency electric current discharge, and means for maintaining the walls of the chambers at high temperaturesto simultaneously subject the vapor to heat and said discharge. 7

3. Apparatus for electrically treating vaporized liquid hydrocarbons and other products comprising a series ofelongated tubular units forming treating chambers constituting a conduit for said vaporized prod ucts, means for subjecting said products while passing through said chambers to a high frequency electric current discharge, and means for highly heating said products while beingsubjected to said discharge.

4. In apparatus for the purposessubstantially as described, a series of metallic tubular units united by cross connections to form a continuous conduit, electrodes depending in said units, and means connected with the walls of said electrodes to subject the prodporized products in said unit to a high frequency electric current discharge, a solenoidexteriorly surrounding and arranged longitudinally of said unit and insulated therefrom and arranged to highly heat the same by induction, said solenoid being composed of a good electrical conductor, means for passing an alternating current through said solenoid, and means for controlling said current to vary the temperature of said unit.

-6. Apparatus forrthe purposes substantially as described, comprising an' elongated conduit for vaporous products and means whereby said products are for an extended length of time subjected to high temperature and a high frequency electric current discharge while within said conduit and under low pressure.

7. Apparatus for the purposes substantially as described comprising an elongated conduit for vaporous products and means for subjecting said products passing through said conduit to red-hot walls and a high frequency electric current discharge.

8. Apparatus for the purposes substantially as described comprising an elongated conduit for vaporous products, means for subjecting said products in said conduit to a high frequency electric current discharge, and means to maintain walls of said conduit at a red heat. i

9. Apparatus for the purposes substantially as described comprising a conduit for vaporous products and wherein said products are subjected to high temperature and a high frequency electric current discharge, said conduit including tubular units through which said products longitudinally pass, each unit having means to-heat its walls to a high temperature, and also having means to subject the vaporous product passing therethrough to a high frequency electric current discharges- 10. Apparatus for the purposes substantially as described comprising a conduit for vaporous products and wherein,said products are subjected to high temperature and a high frequency electric current discharge, said conduit including metallic tubular units, each having an exterior longitudinal good-electrical-conductor solenoid, said solenolds connected with a source of alternating electric current supply and with means for varying the current passing through the solenoids to vary the temperature of the units. a

11. In apparatus for the purpose substantially as described, a conduit for the passage of vaporous mixtures and wherein said mixtures are subjected to heat and to a high frequency electric current discharge, said conduit comprising several tubular units connected in series by cross connections to cause the mixtures to flow longitudinally through said units in succession, said cross connections comprising a removable return bend whereby access can be gained to the interiors of the units connected thereby.

12. In combination, a hydrocarbon liquid vaporizing still, a steam pipe discharging into said still below the liquid level, a conduit for carrying off the vaporous mixture from said still embodying a vaporous mixture treating and heating chamber at the exterior of the still, means for heating the vaporous mixture passing through said chamber, and means for subjecting the vaporous mixture while passing through said chamberto a high frequency electric current discharge.

Signed.

LOUIS BOND CHERRY. 

